UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Grant Norris launched a pair of two-run homers, in the fourth and fifth innings, to guide the Penn State baseball team to a 12-7 win over Northwestern on Saturday at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Nittany Lions clinched the series win and will play for the sweep on Sunday. Penn State is now 15-12 overall and 3-5 in Big Ten play, while Northwestern dropped to 10-17.
Jaden Henline started on the mound for the Nittany Lions, going seven innings. He allowed four runs on six hits. Henline struck out one and walked one. Between the third and seventh innings, Henline retired 11-straight batters, including eight on groundouts.
David Lee threw one inning in relief, allowing three runs on two hits and a walk. Anthony Steele went one scoreless inning with a strikeout.
Kyle Potthoff got the start for Northwestern. He allowed five runs on eight hits through four innings. Potthoff struck out two and walked one. Jack Dyke went one inning, giving up two runs on two hits and striking out one. Amar Tsengeg gave up four runs over two innings and Drew Dickson allowed one run over one-third of a frame. Peter Michael got the final two outs of the eighth.
Penn State collected 12 runs on 17 hits. Grant Norris led the way with three hits, including a pair of two-run home runs. Norris notched his first career multi-homer game and tied his career high with four RBI. Bobby Marsh tallied three hits, including a triple, three RBI and two runs, while Joe Jaconski had three hits, including a double, and two runs. Bryce Molinaro recorded three hits, including an RBI double, and a run. J.T. Marr had a two-run double, while Adam Cecere contributed two hits, including a double, and two RBI.
Northwestern had seven runs on eight hits. Preston Knott launched two homers and drove in three runs. Jackson Freeman added a solo homer and two runs, while Trent Liolios drove in two runs with a triple.
The Wildcats gained the early advantage. Leading off the game, Knott launched a 1-1 pitch over the wall in right for a solo homer. Northwestern led 1-0.
Penn State tied the game in the bottom half. Jaconski started the inning with a double to left-center. A soft line drive by Marsh resulted in a fielder's choice as Jaconski was thrown out at third. Two batters later, Cecere drilled a fly ball off the wall in center for a double as Marsh hustled home. The game was even at 1-1.
Northwestern responded with two runs in the second. With two outs, Griffin Arnone lined a double off the wall in right. Knott followed with a fly ball into the right field bleachers for a two-run homer. The Wildcats held a 3-1 lead.
The Wildcats added a run in the third. Leading off the inning, Freeman lifted an 0-2 pitch over the wall in right. Northwestern led 4-1.
Penn State took the lead in the fourth. Cecere started the inning with a bunt single down the third base line, to beat the shift. A groundout moved Cecere to second. Norris crushed a 2-1 pitch over the wall in center for a two-run shot, his seventh homer of the year. Tayven Kelley held off on a 3-2 pitch to draw a walk. A single to right by Kyle Hannon and a hit-by-pitch by Jaconski loaded the bases. With the infield shifted to the right side of the infield, Marsh shot a grounder through the middle for a single as Kelley and Hannon scored. The Nittany Lions held a 5-4 lead.
The Nittany Lions added two runs in the fifth. With one out, Molinaro lined a single to left. Norris smoked a 1-0 pitch over the wall in center for his second homer of the afternoon. Penn State extended its lead to 7-4.
Penn State scored again in the sixth. Jaconski shot a grounder through the right side for a single. A fly ball to left-center by Marsh bounced off the wall as Marsh raced to third for a triple as Jaconski scored. Two batters later, Cecere lifted a fly ball to center for a sac fly to bring home Marsh. The Blue and White led 9-4.
Northwestern cut into the Penn State lead in the top of the eighth. Freeman started the inning with a walk. Two batters later, Vince Bianchina singled to right. Pinch-hitter Liolios sent a fly ball off the top of the wall in center for a triple as Bianchina scored. A groundout by Lorenzo Rios allowed Liolios to score. Penn State still led 9-7.
Penn State responded in the bottom half. Jaconski led off with an infield single. Billy Gerlott was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Marr followed with a double to the corner in left to drive in both runners. Two batters later, Molinaro bounced a double off the warning track in right for a ground-rule double as pinch-runner Adin Zorn crossed the plate. PSU held a 12-7 advantage.
The series wraps up on Sunday at noon and features postgame kids run the bases.
All home games are free admission for all ages.
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The 2024 Penn State baseball season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
Grant Norris celebrates one of his two home runs